Oscillating self-laying track for traction-engines.



G. W. PRICE. OSCILLATING SELF LAYING TRACK FOR TRACTION "ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED own. 1914.

1,153,570. 'PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

M I I 1 A 30. 1

2 I I I w n WITNESSES: I Hum/m $70 #flw G.v W. PRICE. OSCILLATING SELFLAYING TRACK FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION man DEC. 29. 19M,

1,153,570, I PatentedSept.14,19l5.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES. l/VVE/V TOR A TTORIVEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GOMER W. PRICE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR'TO HENRY L. SMITH, OFSAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Application filed December 29, 1914. Serial No. 879,569.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GOMER'W. PRIoE,-a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OscillatingSelf-Laying Tracks for Traction-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates, in general, to vehicles intended for travel oversoft or uneven ground, particularly traction engines, and it especiallyrelates to that type of tractors having self-laying tracks, comprisingan endless chain of articulated broad-surfaced treads which serve as thetraction drivers as well as the main supports for the vehicle.

My invention consists in a novel self-laying track construction in whichindependent tread frames, one on each side of the machine, are pivotallycarried at about the middle of their length, by the main .axle, and thetread-chains of said frames are driven by power transmitted from thepower plant of the machine to devices in the axis of oscillation of saidframes and thence to the drivers of said chains, whereby the tracks mayindependently oscillate to conform to any undulation or unevenness ofthe ground without affecting the driving connections.

The objects of my invention are to pro vide a self-laying track type oftractor in which the track will at all times lie parallel with thesurface of the ground regardless of irregularities; also to provide astationary or non-rotating axle around which said track oscillates, thetwo parts being thoroughly braced also to provide means for taking upand adjusting the tension of the tread-chain at either or both ends ofthe tread frame; and, finally to eliminate all rotating action on thetraction members, the axles, shafts, bearings, bushings, gears andsprockets being sub ect to rotating strains only, the traction strainsfalling only on the stationary axle and bearings.

Referring to the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a diagrammaticelevation showing a traction engine fitted with my oscillatingself-laying track, which conforms itself to an undulation of the ground.Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating another situation requiringoscillation of the track to conform thereto. Fig. 3 is a side view, moreor less diagrammatic, showing the general arrangement of my oscillatiiigtrack as applied to the tractor. Fig. 4 is a skeleton plan viewillustrating a track on each side of the vehicle. Fig. 5 is a horizontalsectional view taken on'the line az-w of Fig. 6, showing one side of thetractor, the track itselfbeing omitted. Fig. 6 is a side elevation,broken, of the track and its mounting. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation,enlarged, on the line yy of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation,enlar ed, on the line az of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a detail top plan of thedriving sprocket engaging the treadchain.

1 is the stationary main axle.

2 is one of the main-axle bearings in the tread or track frame. Thereare, of course, two of these, one on each side, that is, one in eachtread-frame, there being two such frames, one on each side of thetractor, each frame carrying a self-laying track, as is indicated in Fi4.

The treadame comprises a lower part composed of two members, preferablypieces of channel iron 3, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and anupperpart, also composed of two members, preferably I-beams 4. The upperand lower parts-are rigidly bolted together, as shown at 5 in Fig. 6.

The main axle bearings 2 are carried by the lower members 3 of the treadframes about midway of their length; and these two bearings, one on eachside, carry practically the entire weight of the tractor. They are sofitted that the tread-frames may independently vibrate or oscillateabout the main-axle, permitting either or both tracks or tread chains ofthe tractor, at the same or at different times, to take differentpositions to conform to the undulations or uneven- I mess of the ground,as, for example, the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the lower portion 3 of the tread-frame, there are mounted a number ofheavy carrierxwheels 6 and 7. For illustration four are shown. Thesewheels roll upon the upper surface of the lower run of the link-belt ortread-chain 8 and they carry practically the entire weight of thetractor. Two of these wheels, namely those designated by 6, have aperipheral tongue 6', and the other the driver sprocket 9, permits theteeth'of said sprocket to bury themselves in said groove while bothwheel and sprocket are rotating, thus enabling all centers to be broughtcloser together than otherwise would be possible.

Between the lower and upper portions 3 and 4 of the tread-frames, ateachend are fitted bearings 10. the forward ones carrying the shaft 11',of the front or idler sprocket 11 for the tread-chain 8, and the rearbearings carrying the shaft 9' for the driver sprocket 9.

The bearings 10, both the front and the rear bearings, are slidable andare adjustable by means of distance blocks 12 and screws 13. Thisconstruction provides for adjusting the tension of the tread ortrackchain for change of centers between the main-axle and the sprocketshafts, and also provides for releasing the tension sufficiently topermit the mounting or demounting of the chain around the sprockets, andto adjust the horizontal center of said chain in relation to the axle inorder to obtain the proper swinging and traction balance in the treadand tread frames.

The upper part 4 of the tread frames support one or more idler pulleys14; I have here shown three of these in Fig. 6; theyare for the purposeof carrying the slack in the upper run of the tread chain.

The tread-frame, pivotallv connected with the main-axle 1, by the mainbearing 2, is further connected with and braced from the axle, by meansof two braces 15, as

. shown in Fig. 5, usually made of angle-iron.

These extend from the lower members 3 of the tread-frame, to a collar 16rotatably mounted on the axle, and having projections or wings 17 toreceive said braces, the connection being such that the whole tread willswing or oscillate about the center.

It is well, in some cases, to brace the inner end of the driver-sprocketshaft 9', by the means shown in Fig. 5, comprising the bearing 18,collars 19 and turn-buckle strut 20, connected with the axle collar 16.

Upon the main axle 1 is the lower spring socket 21 of the tractor frame.Between this and the main bearing 2 is a double 'sprocket 22 and 22 freeto rotate on the axle. Motion is transmitted from a suitable source,say, from a sprocket'23 on a shaft .24 in Fig. 3, by meansof a chain 25to the sprocket 22. Thence the motion is applied from the sprocket 22"by means of a chain 26 to a sprocket 27 fast on the shaft 9 of thedriver-sprocket 9.

In Figs. 3 and 728 is the upper spring socket and 29 is the spring ofthe tractorframe 30. In Fig. 3-31 is the link which pivotally connectsthe frame and axle, and 32 is a guide for controlling the relativemovement of the two. In Fig. 55- 33 is a draft link mounted on the axle.In Figs. 1 and 2A indicates the tractor, having a front wheel C and apower plant B.

I claim 1. In a traction engine having a powerplant, the combination ofa main axle; independent tread-frames, one on each side of the machine,each of said tread-frames being composed of a lower part and an upperpart rigidly connected thereto; a bearing carried by the lower part ofeach treadframe, said bearings being journaled on the main axle, onenear each end thereof, adapting said tread-frames to independentlyoscillate about said axle; a sprocket carried at each end of eachtread-frame; an endless tread-carrying chain carried by the sprocketsofeach tread-frame; a series of peripherally tongued and grooved carryingwheels frame, said bearings being journaled on the main axle, one neareach end thereof, adapting said tread-frames to independently oscillateabout said axle; braces secured to each tread-frame, one forward of andanother rearward of the axis of oscillation; collars journaled on themain axle, one collar being fixed to the inner ends of-the braces ofeach tread-frame; an idler-sprocket carried at the forward end of eachtread-frame; a driving-sprocketcarried upon a journaled shaft at therearward end of each tread-frame; means applied to each sprocket forvarying its distance from the axis of oscillation of the tread-frames; abearing on the inner end of each of said driving-sprocket shafts;longitudinally adjustable struts from said bearings to the said collarson the main axle; an endless tread-carrying chain carried by thesprockets of each tread-frame; carrying wheels journaled in thelower'part of each and means for transmitting motion from thepower-plant of the traction engine to the driving sprockets.

3. In a traction-engine having a powerplant, the combination of amain-axle; independent tread-frames pivotally mounted upon and adaptedto oscillate about said axle, one near each end thereof; a sprocketcarried in each end of each tread-frame; an endless tread-carrying chaincarried by the sprockets of each tread-frame; means applied to thesprockets for varying their distance from the axis of oscillation of thetread-frames; a series of peripherally tongued and grooved carrying andguiding wheels mounted in the tread-frames and rolling on the uppersurface of the lower run of the tread-chains; power transmitting devicesin the axis of oscillation of the treadframes; means for transmittingmotion from the power-plant of the traction engine to said devices; andmeans for transmitting motion from said devices to one of the sprocketsof each tread-chain to drive said chains.

l. In a traction-engine having a powerplant, the combination of a mainaxle; independent tread-frames, one on each side of the machine, each ofsaid tread-frames being composed of a lower part and an upper part, thetwo rigidly connected; a bearing carried by the lower part of eachtread-frame, said bearings being journaled on the main-axle, one neareach end thereof, adapting said tread-frames to independently oscillateabout said axle; a sprocket carried at each end of each tread-frame; anendless tread-carrying chain carried by the sprockets of eachtread-frame; carrying wheels mounted in the lower part of eachtreadframe and rolling on the upper surface of the lower run of thetread-chain; idler pulleys carried by the upper part of the treadframesto support the upper run of the tread-chains; power transmitting devicesin the axis of oscillation of the tread-frames; means for transmittingmotion from the powenplant of the traction engine to said devices; andmeans for transmitting motion from said devices to one of the sprocketsof each tread-chain to drive said chains 5. In a traction-engine havinga powerplant, the combination of a main axle; independent tread-frames,one on each side of the machine, each of said treadframes being composedof a lower part and an upper part, the two rigidly connected; a bearingcarried by the lower part of each tread-frame, said bearings beingjournaled on the main-axle, one near each end thereof, adapting saidtread-frames to independently oscillate about said axle; a sprocketcarried at each 'end of each tread-frame; means applied to the sprocketsfor varying their distance from the axis of oscillation of the tread-,frames; an endless tread-carrying chain carried by the sprockets ofeach tread-frame; carrying wheels mounted in the lower part of eachtread-frame and rolling on the upper surface of the lower run of thetread-' the sprockets of each tread-chain to drive said chains.

6. In a traction-engine having a powerplant, the combination of aweight-carrying axle; independent tread-frames pivotally mounted uponand adapted to oscillate about said axle, one near each end thereof;braces secured to each tread-frame, one forward of and another rearwardof the axis of oscillation; a collar journaled on the main-axle, saidcollar being connected with the inner ends of the braces; a sprocketcarried in each end of each tread-frame; an endless tread-carrying chaincarried by the sprockets of each tread-frame; carrying wheels mounted inthe tread frames and rolling on the upper surface of the lower run ofthe tread-chains; power transmitting devices in the axis of oscillationof the tread-frames; means for transmitting motion from the power-plantof the traction engine to said devices; and means for transmittingmotion from said devices to one of the sprockets of each tread-chain todrive said chains.

7. In a traction-engine having a powerplant, the combination of amain-axle; independent tread-frames pivotally mounted upon and adaptedto oscillate about said axle, one near each end thereof; braces securedto each tread-frame, one forward of and another rearward of the axis ofoscillation; a collar journaled on the main-axle, said collar beingconnected with the inner ends of the braces; shaftscarried in each endof each tread-frame; a sprocket on each shaft; means applied to eachshaft for varying the distance of its sprocket from the axis ofoscillation of the tread-frames; a bearing on each of the rearsprocket-shafts; a turnbuckle strut from said bearings to the collar onthe main axle; an endless tread-carrying chain carried by the sprocketsof each tread frame; carrying wheels mounted in the tread frames androlling on the upper surface of the lower run of the tread-chains; powertransmitting devices in the axis of oscillation of the tread-frames;means for tranmitting motion from the power-plant of the traction-engineto said devices; and means for transmitting motion from said devices tothe rear sprocket-shafts.

8. In a traction-engine having a powermotion from the potter-plant ofthe traction engine to said devices; and means for transmitting motionfrom said devices-to one of 1 the sprockets of'each tread-chain to drivesaid. chains.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

- GOMER W. PRICE. Witnesses:

WM. J5. Boo'rnz, D. B. RICHARDS.

